BABY STU

Dear Baby Stu,

This morning I woke up around 9:30/10:00 because there was a storm last night and I didn't sleep well. I decided to make some Eggowaffles. I always remember my dad making them for me when I was little and I still have to cut them up the same way. As I put the waffles in the toaster I decided to go ahead and take a pregnancy test. I've felt pretty bloated lately and just a little off, but I still can't figure out why I decided to because over the last year and a half every time I had a hunch, I was always wrong. At my last doctor appointment I was told in August they would send me to a specialist in KC so I also kind of gave up hope. Well as I finished the test I was shutting the cabinet from getting another role of toilet paper and I looked down and there the word was. PREGNANT. It hadn't even been the 3 minutes..not even 2 minutes! I was certain that by the time the 3 minutes were up the word "Not" would show up in front of pregnant. Nope! Instead, 3+ weeks!! I don't think Abby (your doggy sister who has also been waiting patiently to find out about you) understood what was going on because I immediately started jumping up and down and squealing.

As much as I don't want to keep you a secret I have to for now until I can get into the doctor to learn you are healthy. Your daddy works in Manhattan right now and only gets to come home some weekends. He doesn't get to this weekend so I have to wait another week to tell him. I want to see his reaction so a call on the phone call won't suffice. I did call your cousin Ashley though. She is about the only one that has known we have been praying and trying for you, our little Studebaby, for awhile now. It felt so good to tell someone.

Also, I've only known about you for a few hours now and you've already been apart of one of God's miracles. You see, 2 years ago on this same day I found out my dad (your grandpa) had stage 4 cancer without the best hopes. Well, here we are 2 years later and he's doing great! He will be one awesome grandpa, just wait and see. This is now a day I will celebrate for a different reason..finding out about you baby Stu.  Knowing that day's significance puts me at ease that everything will be okay and I shouldn't worry about the risks regarding my health.

Let the adventures of Baby Stu begin!!!

xoxo,

Momma

  

I am pretty sure you had just started cooking in this picture, and for both of our sakes, lets take this moment to pray you cook better than I do.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

The first thing I did after I left the airport was find the nearest place to get a sweet tea! I love that when you ask for tea in the south you don't have to say sweet tea or ask for sugar. I also love that chicken and waffles are on just about every menu. That dish may not sound very good, but y'all have GOT to try it. The Black Cow served up the best I have ever had. If you are ever near Columbus, Georgia please do yourself a favor and eat there. 11th and Bay Southern Table was great also. In fact, this is where our family ate the first two nights it was so good!

Cheddar waffle topped with fried chicken and their house made bacon jam.

Now for the real reason Georgia is on my mind.

"...I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier."

Hearing my cousin Danny speak these words at his graduation as a part of The Soldier's Creed, gave me the chills. I have many family members who have served and are currently serving as a part of our U.S. Army, but something about my little (yes, he will always be considered little) cousin continuing what seems to be the family business is bittersweet.

As an American, you should feel thankful you have someone like Danny helping protect our country. The word PROUD feels like an understatement as to how I feel about this boy.

Follow me.

Like father, like son.

Danny almost has his 1st week of Airborne school complete and in 2 more weeks he will graduate from Airborne and hopefully continue on to Ranger school. 

"God is my strength and my power, and he makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze."

2 Samuel 22:33-35

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Valentine's day is in less than a month so I decided I better start figuring out what I am going to do for Ryan. We have never really gave extravagant gifts to one another, but instead we have done something that makes each other feel special. Our very first Valentine's together I made Ryan a home cooked meal complete with his favorite food, ham. If you know me, you know how extremely difficult this was! Luckily, it all came together. Another year Ryan "hired" his roommate at the time to serve us dinner for two. It was so sweet. I am sure our love holiday will go somewhere along those lines.

Planning this years festivities for the national day of love really got me thinking about our wedding and everything that made it special to us. Our family surrounding us, the snow falling, the food prepared by our friends, and so much more that could never be put into words. Which got me also thinking...I never shared pictures or our beautiful video! It has been a little over a year since the big day and I could still watch it every day. I loved every minute second of that day from the moment I woke up next to my "baby" cousin Madison and running outside to a surprise snowfall to falling asleep next to my handsome husband in our first home together.

Our videographer, Brooke, also did a Save the Date video for us to tell our love story.

 

Save the Date Video 

 

Studebaker Wedding Video 

Our photographers also did a beautiful job with our book! Only a few of my favorites...

The boys really did clean up nice...and then there is C.J.

Ryan's grandpa Studebaker drove us away from our wedding in his 1923 Studebaker.

Fun Fact: 23 is our favorite number and our age in this photo.

How can you not absolutely adore this photo of Ryan's grandparents giving us marital advice?!

COFFEE & JESUS

...both are needed to make it through most days. Especially if you are a teacher. An elementary teacher. An elementary teacher returning from a two week break. Luckily for me, my cousin shared with me a Starbucks copy cat drink recipe over break. This drink also happens to be one of my favorites.

Iced White Chocolate Mocha with one pump of caramel, please!

                    Folgers Classic Roast (medium) - Starbucks Espresso Roast (dark) - White Chocolate chips - Caramel (optional)
                                                                     Not pictured- milk and optional whipped cream
For this particular recipe I use my reusable K-cup in my Keurig. I filled the first half of the K-cup with espresso and then the top half with coffee.
Before I brew the espresso/coffee mixture, I put one or two scoops of white chocolate chips in the coffee cup and pour in milk where it just tops the chips.

I melt this white chocolate chip/milk mixture in the microwave and stir. Once the chips are melted, I brew 8 oz. of the espresso/coffee mixture on top and stir. At this point, your drink is ready.

The next few steps are optional.

At this time I stir in caramel and then pour the drink over ice. Top with whipped cream and TA-DA.

ICED WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA with one pump of CARAMEL

Enjoy!

TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN

Last year through the holidays I remember singing, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas, may your heart be light. Next year all your troubles will be out of sight," and praying it would be true. I'm so happy with how this year turned out. God has truly worked in my life this year. There may not have been what most would consider GREAT things that happened, but I accomplished what I hoped to do. Stay happy without stress and worry controlling my life. I can't wait to build on that and see what God has in store for us in 2016!!

2015 gave us so many memories.

January- We moved into to our first home together after we returned from our honeymoon. My great grandmother Mosler passed away the day after we returned. Ryan took me to see Garth Brooks in concert.

February- My dad's cancer scans were ALL CLEAR. Ryan and I's first holiday as husband and wife. It was very punny. >Here are our favorite puns< Our dog, Abby, at nearly 3 POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE and survived. 

April- We bought 10 acres on the pit I grew up on (Mosler's Resort) in hopes to build on it someday soon. 

May- Ryan's sister got married and my cousin Madi graduated high school. We attended several Blaster's baseball games. Ryan's grandpa lost his sweet wife.

June- We attended our first ever Chingawasa Days with my Aunt and Uncle and saw Casey Donahew for the billionth time. My cousin Danny graduated high school in North Carolina and was then sworn into the Army. We made it through another family campout, Great Gatsby style.

July- Our good friends Taylor and Alex were married. We started attending a new church in hopes of finding a fitting church home.

November- Spent the month being thankful for health. It has been about a year since our parents were dismissed from hospitals for health concerns.

December- My cousin Madi got engaged during Christmas dinner. Celebrated our FIRST Christmas as a married couple and then our FIRST anniversary by ice skating at Crown Center in Kansas City. It rained-no surprise.

This is the first weekend in 4 or 5 weeks we have been Ryan and I have been home. It was so nice to start this 1st Sunday morning of 2016 in church again. It has only been 3 days into the new year and so much is starting to play out already. We are seeing excitement and challenges in our coming future, but with my amazing husband by my side and God guiding us we can not fail.

"God will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. He will guide me with His eye."
Psalm 32:8

BRIDESMAIDS

Whoever said planning the wedding was the hard part was wrong. Finalizing my bridesmaids has been the hardest thing, ever. Ryan, however, knew who his groomsmen were going to be and pretty much in what order they would be standing from the moment we got engaged. You would have thought he had spent his childhood dreaming of his wedding day. Finally after a month of engagement, I had made a decision of four beautiful gals that mean so much to me. At this point, I was just crossing my fingers and saying my prayers that they would say yes.

I figured with such a grand decision, I needed a grand proposal. So after shopping throughout some craft stores, this is what I came up with. By the way, Carly shopped for this stuff with me during a "girls day" and how I kept the use for the materials a secret baffles me. I had to lie all day to her. To those that personally know me, know I can't lie to save my life. But...I don't think she knew! Wooo! Go me!

Now for the line up...

Matron of Honor: (I know I put maid...my bad) Ashley, cousin

Bridesmaid 1: Carly, BFF--She is getting married in August!

Bridesmaid 2: Madi, cousin

Bridesmaid 3: Robyn, Ryan's sister--Does this count as not being an only child now?! I am super excited to gain a sister!

Each box had...

• A black with gold sharpie mug labeled with "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of Honor", the wedding date, and the girl's name.
• A paper chain of "bridesmaids" with the name of the corresponding bridesmaid.
• A personalized card that popped the question.

Ryan's groomsmen are three boys he grew up with and then, my pick, C.J. This past weekend we finally finished asking everyone in our wedding party, including the kids. Aside from how I asked my bridesmaids, I loved how we asked our flower girls. Over Christmas break Ryan "proposed" to my cousin Graci, 2 years old, with a ring pop. It involved candy so that was an easy answer "I want the sucker." Then he proposed to my bold, outgoing cousin, Lily, 6 years old, with a small, gold, flower ring. Adorable.

The video shows just how shy she was, it was so cute. Oh, and ignore the P.J.'s, it was during our Christmas breakfast.

xo
Miss Mal

#studebakerwedding

Snow, snow, snow, snow.  ...I want to wash my hands, my face, and hair with snow.
Is this what it is like in Vermont during the winter? I can't stop singing Bing Crosby's, "Snow," from White Christmas with all of this angelic-like, pure, white snow surrounding us here in Kansas.  However, snow can be a good thing for us teachers...snow day! I took a sick day on Monday and as I was calling in for another sick day on Tuesday, I was notified that school was cancelled. Thank you God. Today was also cancelled. Can you guess how I've spent my past few days, besides listening to my record player? Pinteresting, of course.

And by Pinteresting, I mean planning for my wedding. My mom used to own her own wedding shop and so I feel like I have practically had most of my wedding planned out for awhile, just had to wait for a groom (found him!). She had a great business and did amazing, but it still makes me wonder, what did we do before Pinterest? There are so many really cool (and odd) ideas that I have gotten from the site.

I have sooo many ideas on my "Winter Wedding-Secret Board" and quite frankly, I can't keep them all a secret. So here's a small sneak peek! I have always loved the richness and boldness in black and gold sparkly things. Then after I watched the movie The Great Gatsby earlier this year, I knew I wanted a party like that. Perfect combo and fitting for winter, if I do say so myself. Formal, fun, and classy. My favorite.
I love pictures and constantly post to Instagram, daily. If you follow me, I am sure you are fully aware. Anyway, I love the idea of guests sharing their photos via IG! Then, the parinoid person I am, I was scared someone would already call dibs on the hashtagname I wanted, so I have already been hashtagging my posts. DIBS! #studebakerwedding

Aside from Pinterest, my Erin Condren wedding planner has been awesome for the planning process and organizing all of the dates, phone numbers, to-do lists, the budget, my scattered thoughts, and much more.

***If you are a "Bride to Be" and in need of a planner, here is a code for 25% off your wedding planner! Code:BRIDE2BE25 offer expires on 2/14/14***

IMPORTANT: I have decided on my reception venue and was able to find a place in my hometown. The kicker, it's in the process of being renovated. It is a historic sight downtown and would bring in a lot of business to our small town if the owners were able to finish the project. Money is an issue though so they are trying to get a grant to help the process go by quicker. Please visit this website and vote daily>>> Small Business Grant from Fedex. You can vote daily from each device (phone, iPad/tablet, laptop, etc.). I have faith in them and that it will be BEAUTIFUL! My only other option is to have a reception hall that is out of town and could possibly not work out if a winter storm rolls through next winter. Thanks a million for your vote! :)

10 months and 3 weeks until I become a MRS.! Also, a quick shout out to my main man, Superman, first love--my daddy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

xo
Miss Mal